AA_Jan24_WEB

HEALTH & BEAUTY | PAIN RELIEF
BY DR. SAFRANSKI
Arthritis and Chiropractic
Arthritis, we have all heard of it, and it affects
some if not most of us. Arthritis has many
forms and conditions, but for the purpose of
this article we will discuss osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis or OA is defined as the degeneration of joint
cartilage and the underlying bone, most common from middle
age and onward in life. This can happen in any joint, but
here we will specifically address OA of the spine.
Quick anatomy lesson, humans have 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, and
5 lumbar vertebrae, and in between each one of those vertebrae is
a disc. That disc has two parts. The inside is a gelatinous material
called the nucleus pulposus and the outside portion of the disc call
the annulus fibrosis. The annular is a strong durable material that
bonds to the top and bottom of the vertebrae. These discs act as
the shock absorbers of the spine. Just like in your car, these wear
out after lots of miles or improper use. Improper use can occur due
to poor biomechanics, poor posture, overuse, or even injury. The
discs are a very viscous material and need movement to get their
nutrition and hydration. If the spine is injured, or biomechanics are
altered, the discs are not getting their proper nutrients and hydration,
so they dehydrate or degenerate. When this happens, you have
degenerative disc disease. It’s not actually a disease, but rather a
condition. However, when the disc is degenerated and dehydrated,
the body views that as unstable and locks down the muscles around
the joints, and protects the spine by laying down more bone, resulting
in osteoarthritis.
There are other concerns in this process as well. During the degeneration
process, the likelihood of developing disc herniations
are increased, as well as an increase in symptoms such as sciatica.
How can this be treated? First and foremost, MOVEMENT is the key
to life. Stretching, exercising, going on walks, getting out and experiencing
this beautiful country of ours, is going to help keep those
joints lubricated.
For the spine, getting adjusted is going to introduce motion to the
joints that are stuck in the protective mechanism we talked about
earlier. It is also going to help rehydrate the discs over time. For
disc herniations, non-surgical spinal decompression is the most
aggressive conservative treatment that can be done to help with
herniations and sciatica. Coupling spinal decompression with Class
IV laser therapy to bring more healing properties into the joints has
proven to have great results. In the end, if you are suspecting that
you have arthritis do not just sit around, get up and MOVE!
CONDE CENTER FOR
CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGY
401 West Atlantic Avenue, Suite #014
Delray Beach, FL 33444
561-330-6096
www.thecondecenter.com
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54 | JANUARY 2024 | WWW.ATLANTICAVEMAGAZINE.COM